Folger began competing in the 125cc World Championship in 2009. In that first season he took his maiden podium and earned Rookie of the Year honours. Moving to Aki Ajo's Red Bull Ajo Motorsport team in 2011, he claimed his first race win alongside two further victories in the 125cc class, establishing a reputation as one of the most capable riders in the junior categories.
When the 125cc class was replaced by Moto3, Folger raced for IodaRacing Project before joining Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3 for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He proved himself a race winner in Moto3 during this period. He transitioned to Moto2 in 2014 with the AGR Team, spending two seasons there before moving to the Dynavolt Intact GP squad for 2016. His 2016 Moto2 performances convinced Monster Yamaha Tech 3 to promote him to the premier class for the following year, making him a rare rider to advance directly from a satellite Moto2 outfit to a MotoGP ride.
Folger's debut MotoGP season in 2017 was characterised by consistency and the occasional spectacular result. Riding a satellite Yamaha YZR-M1, his standout moment came at the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring — his home race — where he climbed onto the podium. The result demonstrated his capacity to extract results in MotoGP conditions and marked him as a genuine contender rather than a journeyman satellite runner.
However, 2017 also brought the onset of the health problems that would redefine his career. Folger was subsequently diagnosed with Gilbert's syndrome, a benign but debilitating liver condition that causes elevated bilirubin and persistent fatigue. The illness forced him to withdraw from the final races of the season, preventing him from completing his MotoGP debut campaign and ending any prospects of a straightforward contract renewal.
After his MotoGP career was suspended by illness, Folger returned to Moto2, competing with Petronas Sprinta Racing in 2019 as he worked to rebuild his race fitness and momentum. He subsequently broadened his programme to include the Superbike World Championship, most recently competing regularly during the 2021 season.
In 2023, Folger was nominated as a replacement rider for the GasGas Tech3 Factory Racing team after Pol Espargaro sustained an injury during practice at the opening MotoGP round. Having become one of three official KTM test riders in the intervening years, Folger was called up to make his return to MotoGP starting from the American Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in mid-April. The appearance marked his first MotoGP race start since 2017, and his first under the Tech3 banner since his original season with the squad.
Folger's career amounts to a story of talent interrupted by circumstance. He won races across three separate classes — 125cc, Moto3, and Moto2 — and reached the podium in MotoGP at his home race. Gilbert's syndrome cut short what had been a genuinely promising MotoGP debut, and the years since have been defined by persistence rather than sustained race opportunities. His 2023 wildcard return confirmed that his ability endured even as a full-season premier-class return remained elusive.
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